Buffing head

ABSTRACT

A buffing apparatus having a buffing wheel driven by an electric loader and positioned by a hydraulic motor means which moves the buffing wheel into and out of engagement with the article being buffed. The buffing wheel is supported by a pair of arms extending below the hydraulic motor means, and one of the arms has a pivotal end portion which may be rotated away from one end of the buffing wheel shaft to allow the buffing wheel to be readily removed. The hydraulic motor means is also provided with a volt-angle transducer to generate a signal which is in proportion to the orientation of the frame which supports the buffing wheel. The information obtained from the volt-angle transducer may be then used in a control circuit to automatically control the position of the buffing wheel. The buffing wheel is also provided with a means for being locked in an up position. In this regard, the shaft of the hydraulic motor means is provided with a gear, and a gear rack is pivotally mounted on the frame of the hydraulic motor means. The gear rack engages the gear when the hydraulic motor means is rotated to a desired angular position. Should a loss of power temporarily occur, the buffing wheel will then not drop into the article being buffed. The entire apparatus including the electric motor and the hydraulic rotary motor and the buffing wheel is supported in a U-shaped bracket which in turn is mounted on a horizontal track by means of a series of rollers mounted externally of the U-shaped bracket. The entire apparatus is supported by a pivotal connection within the U of the bracket.

United States Patent Eggert [54] BUFFING HEAD [72] Inventor: Glenn J. Eggert, Cedarburg, Wis.

[73] Assignee: l-loudaille Industries Inc., Buffalo,

22 Filed: N0v.5, 1910 21 Appl. No.: 87,049

[52] US. Cl. ..15/97, 51/99, 51/l66 [51] Int. Cl. ..B24b 29/00 [58] Field ofSearch ..15/102, 97, 77,21 D, 21 E,

15/4; 51/99, 166 MH, 166 TS, 168

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,651,888 9/1953 Comstock ..51/166 MH 2,041,140 5/1936 Moorhead ..15/98 Primary Examiner-Leon G. Machlin Attorney-Hill, Sherman, Meroni, Gross & Simpson [57] ABSTRACT A buffing apparatus having a buffing wheel driven by an electric loader and positioned by a hydraulic motor means which moves the buffing wheel into and out of engagement with the article being buffed. The buffing [15] 3,691,580 Sept. 19, 1972 wheel is supported by a pair of arms extending below the hydraulic motor means, and one of the arms has a pivotal end portion which may be rotated away from one end of the buffing wheel shaft to allow the buffing wheel to be readily removed.

The hydraulic motor means is also provided with a volt-angle transducer to generate a signal which is in proportion to the orientation of the frame which supports the buffing wheel. The information obtained from the volt-angle transducer may be then used in a control circuit to automatically control the position of the buffing wheel. The buffing wheel is also provided with a means for being locked in an up position. ln this regard, the shaft of the hydraulic motor means is provided with a gear, and a gear rack is pivotally mounted on the frame of the hydraulic motor means. The gear rack engages the gear when the hydraulic motor means is rotated to a desired angular position. Should a loss of power temporarily occur, the buffing wheel will then not drop into the article being buffed.

The entire apparatus including the electric motor and the hydraulic rotary motor and the buffing wheel is supported in a U-shaped bracket which in turn is mounted on a horizontal track by means of a series of rollers mounted externally of the U-shaped bracket. The entire apparatus is supported by a pivotal connection within the U of the bracket.

15 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PMENTEDSEPIQ I97? 3.691.580

sum 1 or e l NVENTOR /9/2n 1f @yer/ fig 1 BY 2 a g Z V; Z ATTORNEYS PATENTEDsEPIQIM 3.691.580

sum 3 at 6 67am? (Z 4 BUFFING HEAD BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The field of art to which this invention pertains is buffing apparatus and in particular to apparatus for permitting a buffing wheel to be moved to a desired orientation with respect to an article being buffed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an important feature of the present invention to provide an improved buffing apparatus.

It is another feature of the present invention to provide a buffing apparatus which may be readily moved too different angular positions with respect to an article being buffed.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved combination of a buffing wheel and a hydraulic rotary motor for controlling the angular relationship of the buffing wheel and the article being buffed.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved mounting means for allowing a buffing wheel to be readily removed from the buffing wheel shaft.

It is another feature of the present invention to provide a volt-angle transducer for registering the angular position of the hydraulic motor means.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide means for locking the buffing wheel in an up position and for releasing the same only when it is desired to change the position of the buffing wheel.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel arrangement for supporting a buffing apparatus on a horizontal track.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the following description of a certain preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, although variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a buffing apparatus according to the present invention showing some parts in section.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 illustrating the mounting of the hydraulic motor means.

FIG. 3 is an end view of the buffing apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is the opposite end view as compared to FIG. 3 of the buffing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 and particularly illustrating the locking arrangement for the hydraulic motor means.

FIG. 5 is a section taken alongthe lines V-V of FIG. 4 and further illustrating the locking means for the hydraulic motor means.

FIG. 6 shows a U-shaped frame for supporting the buffing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows the manner of connection of the buffing apparatus to the U-shaped frame of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 shows the U-shaped frame of FIG. 6 as mounted on horizontal tracks, and

FIG. 9 shows a side view of one of the horizontal tracks of FIG. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The present invention relates to an improved buffing apparatus with means for readily varying the position of the buffing wheel so as to more effectively buff or polish irregularly contoured objects such as automobile bumpers.

Referring to the drawings, FIG. I shows a buffing apparatus according to the present invention.

The buffing apparatus of FIG. 1 is supported on a frame 10 which carries an electric motor 11 and a hydraulic rotary motor 12.

The hydraulic rotar'y motor 12 supports a buffing wheel 13. In particular, a frame 14 which includes a pair of arms 15 and 16 is supported at opposite sides of the hydraulic motor 12 as at 17 and 18. The arms 15 and 16 extend below the hydraulic motor 12 and have a pair of bearings 19 and 20 which carry a buffing wheel shaft 21. The buffing wheel 13 is suitably supported on the buffing wheel shaft 21.

The buffing wheel shaft is driven from the electric motor 11 through a first belt 22 from a pulley 23 to a pulley 24. A second belt 25 drives a pulley 26 which is secured to the bufiing wheel shaft 21 from a pulley 27 which is secured to the pulley 24.

As shown in FIG. 2, the pulley 23 is secured to the shaft 28 of the electric motor 11 and the pulleys 24 and 27 are bolted together by means of suitable pins such as the pins 29 and 30. I

As shown in FIG. 1, the lower section 31 of the arm 15 is pivotally mounted at a point 32. The lower section has spherical bearings 20 which support the shaft 21.

The shaft 21 has an end portion 33 which is tapered from a larger diameter at 34 to a smaller diameter at 35. A mating sleeve 36 is fitted over the end portion 33 and is tightly received between the shaft 21 and the bearings 20. The shaft 21 has a threaded end 37, and a nut 38 is tightened over the thread to urge the sleeve into a locked position between the inner race 39 of the bearing 20.

Due to the pivotal arrangement of the portion 31, the buffing wheel 13 may be readily removed from the shaft. The nut 38 is simply removed and the portion 31 tapped slightly with a hammer whereupon the end may be pivoted upwardly to allow the buffing wheel to be readily removed.

The buffing wheel is rotated at a high speed by the electric motor 11 and is moved through an arcuate path which is generally perpendicular to the axis of the buffing wheel by the frame 14 in response to a rotary movement of the hydraulic motor 12. When a desired signal is received at the proper control apparatus, the hydraulic motor 12 is actuated, and the arms 14 and I6 pivot the buffing wheel to a desired position.

A volt-angle transducer 40 is provided as shown in FIG. 3 to sense the change in angular position of the rotary hydraulic motor so that a control system may be employed to determine when the hydraulic motor has moved the bufiing wheel to the sought position.

Means are provided to assure that the buffing wheel, when once raised to a given position will retain that position regardless of a temporary loss in power. Such a means is shown generally in -FIGS. 4 and 5.

The hydraulic motor 12 has a shaft end 41 (FIG. which has a gear 42 fixedly supported thereon. The gear 42 has gear teeth 43 which rotate with the hydraulic motor.

A gear rack 44 has a series of teeth 45 which may mesh with the teeth 43 of the gear 42. The gear rack 44 is pivotally mounted at point 46, and has an end portion 47 which may be moved upwardly or downwardly to either raise or lower the rack teeth 45 with respect to the teeth 43 of the gear 42.

When the end portion 47 is lowered, the rack teeth are raised, and the gear 43 may be freely rotated. When the end portion 47 is raised, the teeth 45 of the rack are lowered into meshing relation with the teeth 43 of the gear 42, and the hydraulic motor may not be rotated.

The raising and lowering of the end portion 47 is accomplished by a piston 48 which is coupled to the end portion 47 at a pivot point 49. The piston 48 is a hydraulic piston and is actuated by a source of hydraulic fluid as delivered within a piston tower 50. A spring 51 keeps the end portion 47 in the raised position, so that failure of hydraulic pressure within the tower 50 will result in a locked relationship between the rack 44 and the gear 42.

The end of the shaft 41 of the hydraulic motor 12 is provided with an additional bearing support 52 as shown in FIG. 5 to support the extra loading on the shaft end which is provided by the tower and the gear rack operating against the gear 42.

The entire buffing apparatus as shown in FIG. 1 is supported within a U-shaped bracket 53 as shown in FIG. 6. A pivot point 54 (FIG. 1) is received within openings 55 and 56, for instance of the U-shaped bracket 53. The frame of the buffing apparatus is illustrated generally in FIG. 7 and is shown coupled to one of the arms 57 of the U-shaped bracket 53. The coupling is accomplished by a pin 58 which is secured by a suitable means at 59.

The U-shaped bracket 53 is then carried by a pair of horizontal tracks 60 and 61. The U-shaped bracket is slidably received on the tracks by means of rollers such as the rollers 61a, 62, 64 and 65. As shown in FIG. 6, there are in fact three rollers on each leg of the U- shaped bracket.

The tracks 60 and 61 may be mounted to beams 62 and 63 which in turn may be supported on a suitable foundation 66 and 67. The tracks 60 and 61 have a pair of flanges 68 and 69 which bear against the respective rollers of the U-shaped bracket and which allow the entire buffing apparatus to be moved along the entire length of the track.

A hydraulic motor means 70 is coupled between the point 71 on the frame 10 and a point 73 on the U- shaped bracket 53. In this way, the entire unit including the buffing head 13 may be moved in an arcuate path which is generally tangent to the axis of the buffing wheel.

I claim as my invention:

1. A buffing apparatus comprising: a buffing wheel, means driving the buffing wheel into a rotary motion, carriage means for moving the buffing wheel through a variable portion of an arc in a direction generally perpendicular to the axis of the buffing wheel, a frame, said means for moving the buffing wheel being pivotally mounted on the frame such that the buffing wheel may also be moved through an arc which is generally tangent to the axis of the buffing wheel, the means for moving the buffing wheel in an arcuate path generally perpendicular to the axis thereof being a hydraulic rotary motor, said hydraulic rotary motor having a shaft extending therethrough, said carriage means being supported at said shaft such that operation of said hydraulic motor causes rotation of the shaft and associated movement of said carriage means.

2. A buffing apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for rotating the buffing wheel comprises an electric motor.

3. A buffing apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein hydraulic motor means are provided to pivot the buffing head in the arcuate direction which is generally tangent to the axis of the buffing wheel.

4. A buffing apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein an elongated track is provided and wherein said frame is slidably mounted in said track to move the buffing wheel and associated means therein.

5. A buffing apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein said frame comprises a U-shaped bracket having bearings mounted at opposite sides of the U for being slidably movable along said track and having pivot means at opposite ends of the U to pivotally support the buffing apparatus therein.

6. A buffing apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein said track comprises means for mounting the same on foundation supports and wherein the track is cooperable with the hearings on the U-shaped frame to permit the buffing apparatus to be slidably moved therealong.

7. A buffing apparatus comprising: a buffing wheel and means for mounting the same for rotary movement, means for driving the buffing wheel into a rotary movement, motor means having a shaft for pivoting the buffing wheel through a variable portion of an arc in a direction generally perpendicular to the axis of the buffing wheel, frame means for supporting the buffing wheel including a pair of arms supported at said motor means shaft for moving the buffing wheel through an arc, and means for pivotally removing one of the arms of the frame away from one end of the buffing wheel to allow the buffing wheel to be readily removed from the buffing apparatus.

8. A buffing apparatus in accordance with claim 7 wherein a shaft is rotatably supported in the pair of arms associated with said frame and wherein the buffing wheel is removably positioned on said shaft and wherein the portion of one of the arms which rotatably supports one of the ends of the shaft is the arm portion which is pivotally operable to expose the end of the shaft and allow the buffing wheel to be removed therefrom.

9. A buffing apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein the end of the shaft supporting the buffing wheel which is associated with the pivotal portion of the related arm is tapered from a larger diameter adjacent to the buffing wheel to a smaller diameter at the extreme end of the shaft.

10. A buffing apparatus in accordance with claim 9 wherein the pivotal portion of the arm which supports the tapered end of the buffing wheel shaft has a tapered sleeve which mates with the associated end of the buffing wheel shaft and which thereby allows the pivotal arm portion to be easily moved away from the end of the shaft for the purpose of replacing or removing the buffing wheel.

11. A buffing apparatus in accordance with claim 7 wherein means are provided to sense the arcuate movement of the buffing wheel in a direction generally perpendicular to the axis of the buffing wheel.

12. A buffing apparatus in accordance with claim 11 wherein said arcuate movement sensor comprises a voltage-angle transducer.

13. A buffing apparatus comprising:

a buffing wheel,

means for rotating the buffing wheel, hydraulic motor means for pivoting the buffing wheel in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the buffing whee],

said hydraulic motor means being normally positioned above the buffing wheel with the buffing wheel being suspended below the hydraulic motor means,

frame means supporting the buffing wheel an adequate distance below the hydraulic motor means,

said hydraulic motor means rotating the frame means through an arcuate path which is generally perpendicular to the axis of the buffing wheel and thereby lifting the buffing wheel from a lower position to an upper position,

said hydraulic motor means having a shaft extending therethrough which is rotated with the motor means, said shaft having a gear-like surface at one portion thereof,

means lockingly engaging said gear-like surface after said hydraulic motor means has been rotated to a desired position, and

means for releasing said locking arrangement when it is desired to move said hydraulic motor means and buffing wheel to a new position.

14. A buffing apparatus in accordance with claim 13 wherein said means for locking said gear-like surface comprises: a gear rack, a frame being provided to sup port the hydraulic motor means, the gear rack being pivotally supported on the frame, and means for pivotally moving the gear rack away from and toward the gear-like surface of the hydraulic motor means for locking or releasing the same.

15. A buffing apparatus in accordance with claim 14 wherein the hydraulic piston means is provided to pivot the gear rack away from the gear-like surface of the hydraulic motor means when it is desired to rotate the motor means and to cause the gear rack to engage the gear-like surface when is is desired to lock the motor means in an up position. 

1. A buffing apparatus comprising: a buffing wheel, means driving the buffing wheel into a rotary motion, carriage means for moving the buffing wheel through a variable portion of an arc in a direction generally perpendicular to the axis of the buffing wheel, a frame, said means for moving the buffing wheel being pivotally mounted on the frame such that the buffing wheel may also be moved through an arc which is generally tangent to the axis of the buffing wheel, the means for moving the buffing wheel in an arcuate path generally perpendicular to the axis thereof being a hydraulic rotary motor, said hydraulic rotary motor having a shaft extending therethrough, said carriage means being supported at said shaft such that operation of said hydraulic motor causes rotation of the shaft and associated movement of said carriage means.
 2. A buffing apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for rotating the buffing wheel comprises an electric motor.
 3. A buffing apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein hydraulic mOtor means are provided to pivot the buffing head in the arcuate direction which is generally tangent to the axis of the buffing wheel.
 4. A buffing apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein an elongated track is provided and wherein said frame is slidably mounted in said track to move the buffing wheel and associated means therein.
 5. A buffing apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein said frame comprises a U-shaped bracket having bearings mounted at opposite sides of the U for being slidably movable along said track and having pivot means at opposite ends of the U to pivotally support the buffing apparatus therein.
 6. A buffing apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein said track comprises means for mounting the same on foundation supports and wherein the track is cooperable with the bearings on the U-shaped frame to permit the buffing apparatus to be slidably moved therealong.
 7. A buffing apparatus comprising: a buffing wheel and means for mounting the same for rotary movement, means for driving the buffing wheel into a rotary movement, motor means having a shaft for pivoting the buffing wheel through a variable portion of an arc in a direction generally perpendicular to the axis of the buffing wheel, frame means for supporting the buffing wheel including a pair of arms supported at said motor means shaft for moving the buffing wheel through an arc, and means for pivotally removing one of the arms of the frame away from one end of the buffing wheel to allow the buffing wheel to be readily removed from the buffing apparatus.
 8. A buffing apparatus in accordance with claim 7 wherein a shaft is rotatably supported in the pair of arms associated with said frame and wherein the buffing wheel is removably positioned on said shaft and wherein the portion of one of the arms which rotatably supports one of the ends of the shaft is the arm portion which is pivotally operable to expose the end of the shaft and allow the buffing wheel to be removed therefrom.
 9. A buffing apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein the end of the shaft supporting the buffing wheel which is associated with the pivotal portion of the related arm is tapered from a larger diameter adjacent to the buffing wheel to a smaller diameter at the extreme end of the shaft.
 10. A buffing apparatus in accordance with claim 9 wherein the pivotal portion of the arm which supports the tapered end of the buffing wheel shaft has a tapered sleeve which mates with the associated end of the buffing wheel shaft and which thereby allows the pivotal arm portion to be easily moved away from the end of the shaft for the purpose of replacing or removing the buffing wheel.
 11. A buffing apparatus in accordance with claim 7 wherein means are provided to sense the arcuate movement of the buffing wheel in a direction generally perpendicular to the axis of the buffing wheel.
 12. A buffing apparatus in accordance with claim 11 wherein said arcuate movement sensor comprises a voltage-angle transducer.
 13. A buffing apparatus comprising: a buffing wheel, means for rotating the buffing wheel, hydraulic motor means for pivoting the buffing wheel in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the buffing wheel, said hydraulic motor means being normally positioned above the buffing wheel with the buffing wheel being suspended below the hydraulic motor means, frame means supporting the buffing wheel an adequate distance below the hydraulic motor means, said hydraulic motor means rotating the frame means through an arcuate path which is generally perpendicular to the axis of the buffing wheel and thereby lifting the buffing wheel from a lower position to an upper position, said hydraulic motor means having a shaft extending therethrough which is rotated with the motor means, said shaft having a gear-like surface at one portion thereof, means lockingly engaging said gear-like surface after said hydraulic motor means has been rotated to a desired position, and MEANS for releasing said locking arrangement when it is desired to move said hydraulic motor means and buffing wheel to a new position.
 14. A buffing apparatus in accordance with claim 13 wherein said means for locking said gear-like surface comprises: a gear rack, a frame being provided to support the hydraulic motor means, the gear rack being pivotally supported on the frame, and means for pivotally moving the gear rack away from and toward the gear-like surface of the hydraulic motor means for locking or releasing the same.
 15. A buffing apparatus in accordance with claim 14 wherein the hydraulic piston means is provided to pivot the gear rack away from the gear-like surface of the hydraulic motor means when it is desired to rotate the motor means and to cause the gear rack to engage the gear-like surface when is is desired to lock the motor means in an up position. 